South Jersey man arrested in Fort Lee, charged with impersonating a cop and weapons possession

By MARY DIDUCH

Staff Writer |

The Record

FORT LEE – A 44-year-old South Jersey man was arrested Saturday for pretending to be a cop and weapons possession, police said.

The man, George Santos of Willingboro, was pulled over in his 2008 Jeep Wrangler Saturday evening on Route 95 North near Fletcher Avenue. Santos was driving in the right shoulder, passing cars stopped in heavy traffic, Fort Lee Capt. Stanley Zon said in a press release Monday.

Santos said he was a police officer with the New York City Department of Sanitation police. He then showed a NYC Sanitation police shield in a black wallet, which also had an identification card saying Santos was an officer there.

But the card was expired as of April 30 and Santos’ photo did not show him looking directly into the camera. Santos, who appeared nervous, could not provide any explanation when questioned, Zon said.

After a vehicle search, officers found a fully loaded 9 mm Smith & Wesson semi-automatic handgun plus several other fake police identification cards, a set of handcuffs and a magazine for the gun, according to the release. In total, Santos had 24 rounds of ammunition.

Santos was charged with impersonating a police officer, possession of a handgun, possession of high capacity magazine, false government documents, possession of handcuffs, improper passing and unregistered vehicle.

Fort Lee Municipal Court Judge John DeSheplo set Santo’s bail at $7,500. Santos was released after he posted bail.

South Jersey man arrested in Fort Lee, charged with impersonating a cop and weapons possession

By MARY DIDUCH

Staff Writer |

The Record

FORT LEE – A 44-year-old South Jersey man was arrested Saturday for pretending to be a cop and weapons possession, police said.

The man, George Santos of Willingboro, was pulled over in his 2008 Jeep Wrangler Saturday evening on Route 95 North near Fletcher Avenue. Santos was driving in the right shoulder, passing cars stopped in heavy traffic, Fort Lee Capt. Stanley Zon said in a press release Monday.

Santos said he was a police officer with the New York City Department of Sanitation police. He then showed a NYC Sanitation police shield in a black wallet, which also had an identification card saying Santos was an officer there.

But the card was expired as of April 30 and Santos’ photo did not show him looking directly into the camera. Santos, who appeared nervous, could not provide any explanation when questioned, Zon said.

After a vehicle search, officers found a fully loaded 9 mm Smith & Wesson semi-automatic handgun plus several other fake police identification cards, a set of handcuffs and a magazine for the gun, according to the release. In total, Santos had 24 rounds of ammunition.

Santos was charged with impersonating a police officer, possession of a handgun, possession of high capacity magazine, false government documents, possession of handcuffs, improper passing and unregistered vehicle.

Fort Lee Municipal Court Judge John DeSheplo set Santo’s bail at $7,500. Santos was released after he posted bail.